“Well done, Mr.Devries.”Professor Rodante claps along with a couple of my classmates.I shake out my hands and allow magic to flow back into me.When I turn back to my peers, teenagers from around the world, I can’t help the victorious grin on my face.I do so love magical practicum day.After we graduate in a few years, we’ll be in the field all the time.I can see us now, young wizards growing to be full-fledged agents.
“You could all learn a thing or two about manipulating multiple targets at once,” the professor says.Her voice is barely audible over the blustery Scottish winds on this perfect spring day.“We’ll try again another practicum day.For now, let us walk back inside to lunch.”She waves her hands, and we all trail after her.
“That was bloody brilliant,” Max says, tapping my shoulder.“I bet juggling monsters is gonna be fun once we’re on missions and shit.”
“It’s not supposed to be fun.”The perpetually surly dude to my right grabs my attention.The skinny, African-American bloke has had it out for me since day one, but I can’t say I mind the attention.He’s too entertaining to mess with.
And he always takes the bait.“What was that?”I grin and slow down to amble next to him as we make our way up the grassy path, far from the professor.
“I said it’s not supposed to be fun.”He frowns, and I smile harder.Hook, line, sinker.“We’re going on missions.”
“We can still enjoy all the sweet magical techniques we’re honing,” Max retorts.
“Maybe if you loosened up a bit, you could be better with your kinetic spells.”I smirk and put my hand on his?firm, muscled?shoulder.“You might even become better than me one day.Brilliant plan, eh, Lulu?”
“It’s Luther,” he says, pushing my hand off.“And I am better than you.”
“That’s not what today’s practicum showed.”
Max snickers, then gravitates towards one of the other girl wizards.
“Whatever, Devries.”Luther bristles.“Once we go on missions, we won’t be having fun.”
Before I can continue messing with Luther, a sight from afar gives me pause.Everyone knows about the imminent threats from the dark dimension known as the Other Side.There’s a rift in reality, resembling broken glass in the air, right outside the Union headquarters.But it’s not always observable, typically warded with invisible shields.
But I can visualize it clearly right now.The monsters float through the rift as the sentinel wizards launch pulses of magic to drive them back.Then, the guards close it up, and the rift returns to appearing as a simple, boring sky over Scotland.
How am I supposed to study the Other Side?
“Hello!Devries!”Luther’s voice breaks me out of my daydreams.“Are you even listening to me?I’m trying to annoy you as payback for annoying me.”
When I refocus, I notice most of the class has gone inside.But not the tall, dark-skinned dude I’m always bickering with.He studies me for a moment, so I regain my composure.
“My bad.You’re full of so much hot air that I guess your words put me to sleep.”I smirk, and he nearly growls.There, back to normal.
“I’m surprised you’re able to get into the building with your massive ego giving you a gigantic head,” he says.
I giggle.“Not bad.Seven out of ten.”I hold open the door for him to enter.“But you could be meaner, Lulu.”
“You’re an ass,” he mutters, walking through.
“Better!”
He grumbles, and I laugh as I dash forward to catch up to Max.
(Now)
“Max.”After striding forward to the bed, I push my blond bangs back to get a good look.“Hello, old friend.”I move to touch Max’s hand on the bed, but he pulls it away.Based on the confusion in his blue eyes, he barely comprehends what’s going on.He’s hexed alright, and it’s bloody awful.
“Taz Devries,” Necia says quietly.The pain on my face must be evident, since the three people to my right cast me sympathetic looks.
Even the familiar face of my old schooltime rival, Luther.He’s taller now, and his musculature has filled out his lanky teenage body.Despite his toned features and pristine facial hair, he’s easy to recognize after a decade.Whatever shock he felt is replaced with the pain of seeing Max in this sorry state, so I turn back to my mate on the bed.
“Max, say something.Who did this to you?”
When his face contorts and unintelligible noises spew from his mouth, I quickly step back.The chief nods at me and says, “See what I mean?”
“This is awful,” I say.
